Evening Star Newspaper, December 17, 1930, Page 3

- DECEMBER 17, 1930. * POSSE HUNTING |Analysis of Bureau of Efficiency Tables Shows BARRYMORE HAS FEVER | H TEACHER'S SLAYER Bloodhounds Used in Pursuit. Nude Body Is Found in School House. By the Associated Press. A i MARYSVILLE, Mo, Detember 17.— by the mysterious murder of 9-year-old Velma Colter in the coun- house where she was a , & posse of citizens using blood- $ounds sought her unknown assailant ftoday. Body Found in School. The nude body of the girl, beaten about the head, was discovered at the school house when the girl failed to_arrive home at the accustomed time. ‘The young teacher’s bloodstained clothing” was heaped beside her body. Dr. C. D. Humberd, coroner, said she had been attacked. The coroner said he had discovered fingerprints, which he was investigating. Stranger Seen Nearby. Bheriff Harve England was informed school children that Miss Colter had remained alone in the building to Tead examination papérs after dismissal of school at 4 o'clock. He said that ‘Will New, a farmer living adjacent to the school, reported noticing a stranger on the grounds. Later, the farmer said, he saw Miss Colter enter the school. Several men, described by officers as “floaters,” were arrested at Marysville @after the murder for investigation. In the opinion of Sheriff England none of those arrested was connected with the slaying. IBSEN DRAMA IS GIVEN BY UNIVERSITY GROUP ¥Pillars of Society,” Directed by Prof. Hutchins—-Student Coun- x cil Manages Play. “Pillars of Soclety,” Henrik Ibsen, was presented gymnasium auditorium at American University last night by the Dramatic Club of the American University under direction of Prof. Will Hutchins, and under the management of the student ceouncil. ‘The roles were taken by Blake Es- pey, James Swan, Estelle Wolfe, Carl- ton Ayers, Betty Jacoby and Arthur . Others in the cast included: Anna Mary Sanford, Rush Bell, Jane Lytle, Harcld Riggle, Lawrence Hetrick, Ellsworth L. Thompkins, Carl Levin, Henry Johnson, Mary Cline, Dorothy Hamilton, Virginia Humphries, Hazel a drama by in the Jacobs, Ethel Smith, Virginia Harrison, | ) red Harris and other members of the Dramatic Club. Scenic effects were designed and ex- ecuted by Prof. Hutchins. ‘The production staff for the Dra- matic Club Infl:dfld John g!ou.swl:i| stage manager; Margaret Mowbray an Harry Weeks, and for the student coun- Norman Cramer, Max Tucker, Ar- Murphy and John Houston. Potential power of streams in Argen- tina was recently estimated at about 5,000,000 horsepower. SPECIAL NOTICES. G OF TH NOTICE_THE ANNUAL MEETIN( T gt o Sl of he C. MM‘H- an Temple, 13th at Pytal £33 0 ptyesss mw, on Priday, December 36 at 8 o'clock 'p.m.. directars for the election of rated, wi the company, 119 South Fairfax st, andris, Va., on Thursday, January 15, H at 11 o'clock am. This meeting is for the election of officers and business transac- A BUILD] [PANY, INC. BY MM PARKER, 3t President. ROBERT DOVE. Secretary. [ HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE of the stockholders of the 18 meeting ington American League Base Bal be held at the offices of the club. SaR. PR AR RS on, Tierd: e R T8 o iock noon. mflufl of electing a board of directors for ‘ensuing year. and for such other business 83 may nm;erly brought before sa meeting. DWARD B. l'INONQV‘ Jr.. REPUTATION COMES FROM CARE- handling, “‘on-t! " arrival and low costs on moving household goods from points X miles. Just phone and we will isdly quote our rates. NATIONAL DELIV- ERYIASSNS NG Nationat 1460. 54 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- DBolders of the General Aufo Truck Co. will be held at its office, 215t st. and Virginia ave. n ton.’ D. C. on January 21, SOREENS. i the ideal ea close out. particulars. —19° NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY other than those contracted by m: WALTER W. BUSH, 724 3rd st. n. 17 sts. THE ESTAURANT _FIRST- ciass Chinese and American dishes: best service. Wil open December 17. 1930, ® 16th and Clifton sts. n.w. We deliver, Co- jumbia 10122 21+ AUCTION SALE HIGH-GRADE ORTENTAL Tugs, carpets and runners. Chinese and silk Tuss, etc. at Weschier's. 930 Penna. ave. n ‘Thursday, December 18th. at 2 o clock p.m., also special evening session 8 o'clock » [LL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY debts contracted by any one other than my- seif. Pasquale A. Maggio, 3117 13th st 5. 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. continuously. Hire—Tuxedos—Full Dress| A SO BTER e T e w. Printing Craftsmen... are at your service for s result-getting publicity The National Capital Press| 1310-1213 D 8t N.W__ Phone 1] | FLOORS ’B::RAF!D AND hine _or 1016 20th s R Ashenie, N G uth. ng-distance moving our Smith's Transfer & Storage Company. st North 334, 395 IR ES ven Lie ertintS indow Shades 59¢ jorn Holland Curtains on your roll- &t our factory: any size up to 36"x6’; fATeer sizes in ‘Drovortion. ' No bhone orders. | THE SHADE FACTORY | 3417_Conn._Ave. *HE OPFICE OF W_W. & E E gou; chiropodists, 12th shd G . - X ] ALLIED VAN LINE SERVICE. Natign-Wide Long-Distance Moving. WANTE] IN LA)ADS.“ 15-21 Loyisville, Ky. an. 15-21 New York Cit: fim Dec. 22 Dec. 27 ATES STORAGE 4 418 10th St N.W. Roof Need Attention? Take the first step toward a lasting, wa t 1 Job tod Send for us. Our %wrl will hold and keep estimate. Sou dry. H KOONS &, " IC. et 119 3rd St. 8.W. __District 0333 W SHADES | 80c l | ETZ Bring us_your rollers for uality Hartshe able Shades your rolle: rge window enuine $1.50 shades NATIONAL SHADE SHOP © 1818 Wye W, E | underassessment on political grounds or - | such cities as St. Louis and Pittsburgh, | Washington (b)—including certain Fed- ' Deductions Are Made State Levies. DISTRICT RECEIVES BENEFIT OF NEITHER Resulting Comparisons Place City Above Those of Same Size. Analysis of the Bureau of Efficiency’s statistical tables accompanying its 1930 report, which compare the tax, revenue and expenditures of 14 cities between 300,000 and 1,000,000 population with those of Washington, again sustains the contention of those who have held that the District’s tax burden is relatively high, and not, as has been charged by critics in the House, abnormally low. The Bureau of Efficiency report itself reaches this conclusion. When per capita State taxes and per capita in- terest and debt payments are deducted from per capita figures Telating to the x levy and the total general :cl’":plfl’:; mxv}'evy of the cities studied the conclusion is even more convincing. The Bureau of Efficiency tables com- pare the fourteen cities with two Wash- ingtons. The first Washington is a ‘Washington in which none of the Fed- eral property holdings are included. The second Washington is a Washing- ton in which the items of assessed valu- ation include the property holdings of the Federal Government other than park property and property used for the exclusive benefit of the municipality. Includes U. S. Property. i In his appearance before the spec! House committee conducting the fiscal relations inquiry, Thomas F. Murphy, assistant chief of the Bureau of Ef- clency, insisted that the Federal hold- ings should be included in per capita comparisons with other cities, as the Federal Gevernment in this case repre- sents some of the rich tax-paying cor- porations of other cities, whose holdings naturally tend to raise their per capitas. The Bureau of Efficiency, however, has been careful to include both Washing- tons, and this system is carried out in the table which accompanies this article. In the fourteen cities which the bu- ureau compares with Washington not one has as low a tax rate as Washing- ton and not one has as high an assessed valuation per capita, either for real roperty or for personal property, as| either of the Washingtons. In total assessed valuation of real property Washington (a) ($1,118,093,- 162) exceeds the corresponding valua- tion of such larger and richer cities as St. Louis ($1,046,957,570), Baltimore ($1,109,045,366), Pittsburgh ($1,108,- 842,440), Buffalo ($1,031,770,390) and Milwaukee ($801,371,698), and exceeds the combined valuations of Minneapolis ($266,066,076), New Orleans ($358,716,- 256) and Indianapolis ($436,766,170). Non-Political Assessing. ‘The high standard of assessment in Washington under a tax assessor who is not politically elected or appointed and the acknowledged practice elswhere of through personal favoritism are factors that go into the painting of such an amazing picture as that offered by assessed property comparisons between gton and the great industrial cities of the Nation; a picture in which the relatively non-industrial and non- commercial Capital is shown to possess property of a higher value than that of and to exceed in value the whole of New Orleans and Minneapolis, or New Orleans and Indianapolis combined. It is generally admitted that if the taxables in other cities were listed for taxation with the same fullness and if the same rigid standards of assessment were applied in other cities that are applied in Washington, the tax rates of these other cities would be lower and more comparable to Washington’ rate. Commenting on the high valuations here, the Bureau of Efficiency quotes the Census Bureau as listing the reported bases of assessment in practice in terms of per cent of esti- mated true value as follows: Washing- ton, 100 per cent; Baltimore, 90 per cent, and Minneapolis, 40 per cent. The Detroit Bureau of Municipal Research, the reports of which are printed nually and have at various times been pubished in the Congressional Record, is quoted by the Bureau of Efficiency as giving Washington's rate as 90 per cent, in comparison with Baltimore's 80 per centand Minneapolis 34 percent. The District assessor, in his appearance be- | fore the committee and heretofore, has | been able to produce statistics relating to sales, etc., that bear out the contention | that assessment figures here are based | on true value, While there may be dif- ferences of opinion over the percentage of actual value, however, there is no difference of opinion as to Washington's relatively high assessment. The bureau tables are mere corroborative evidence in this respect. Asessments Are High. It is nothing new to Washington, therefore, that whenever the compara- tive assessments and tax burdens are thoroughly and scientifically tested, whether by the census authorities (as| in 1922) or by congressional committees, as in 1915 and in later years, or by the | Bureau of Efficiency, as in 1929 and | 1930, the District assessment is near the top or at the top of the list in prox- imity to true valuation, and its tax | burden is found to be either adequate or excessive. The Bureau of Efficiency’s table 2 compares 1928 assessed valuations, total and per capita tax rates, tax levies, total and per capita, for real and per- | sonal property and culminates in the column showing “Total tax levy per capita, real and personal, general prop- erty tax, 1928, which appears as col- umn 1 of the table printed in connec- tion with this article. This column shows that in per capita total general property tax levy Washington (a)— Washingten without the inclusion of the Federal holdings—exceeds three cities and is exceeded by eleven, and that “See Etz and See Better” Nothing could be more appreciated or be a more constant reminder of the giver than a pair of glasses for Christmas. Silver Oxfords and Chain for $10 ey, Washington’s Per Capita Burden He L 3 Last column Table 3. Total Col. tax lev; ‘Table 6. ;) ane nking fun; property less ax levy 4) Por capita ‘Table 8. Col. 10. total Per capita ) avier Than Most ta ces coun T caoita in- est payments. isinking fund T payments. (Table 6, Col. Per c: ety £E] l&‘ 28R Col. 3 +8$57.42 — | Ql 2 !go ¢ T o|Interest and. Sicity ta 1 Col. 7 ! +$58.408— / — 5.352— Baltimore — 40.417— + 1204+ 70,051+ 60.945 + 67.950+ + 81.810+ + 19.715+ Pittsburgh . & 65.50+ 6550 + |+ 59.580— + 65.455— | + 59.535— L T R [+ 64.13— 62.076— + 55.882— |+ 65.481— + 59.287— Milwaukee + 50.95— — 44.710— | . —85071— | — 62.136— Newark + T73.88+ + 55.763— T 66610— | T BT8se— Minneapolis o| + 52.3¢— — 47.583— — 44.138— New Orleans .. | | ebaveanes i- 4392 | | — 33.364— Cincinnati + 59.10— + 55.2T1— T 62080— | + 50.850— Indianapolis ....... . . i i iieeeceerrroacans.| + 40.56— 45.790— — 42.528— — 45.331— — 42.060— ROCheSter ....coviiieruriminnsnnsannnssences| + 64.24— 62.186— | + M.I.!l-— + 64692— — 56.940— Jdersey CItY o.ccvvvecaceccccancnns 60.104— 59.468— $10.002 j = s010= | + 62.888— — 52.886— *Washington ..... |78 % I—6 49.02 +9 't 5 48.797 223 e, T +8 1 6_48.797 —86 57.488 1¥5 ¢t I—9_57.205 +Washington ..... oee *In this first section for Washington none of 1 + 4f 64.69—10] + + 2| . 64.69 —12 — 223 3+ 2 64.467 —12| 3 +1 64.467—13| 3 +1 1 1 73.153 —13] 12,980-‘—-“ 1In this second section for Washington the items of Tty used for the exclusive personal property, $90.371,480; intangible personal than park property and pro) the roperty, $90,371,480. iThe plus and minus signs at left and right ofthe figures in this column the corresponding figures for Washi ‘Washington. Opposite each of the m. The left-hand plus or minus sign relates to the first and the ashington figures is a summary indicating the number of cities me idings of the Federal Government are included. assessed valuation include the valuations of the benefit of Washington, D, C. These valuations are as follows: indicate whether the items Pproperty holdings of the Federal Government other Real property, $320,751,051; tangible for the cities thus marked are more or less than right-hand sign to the second of the two figures for ore or less than Washington. eral holdings—is greater than ten cities and less than four. Deducting Interest Payments. ‘The significant comparisons so far as current maintenance is concerned do not include a comparison of interest payments on city indebtedness, which represent expenditures in the past of the proceeds of loans of which the benefits have been enjoyed. Washing- ton, it is maintained, which enjoys the benefits of no loans, should not be re- quired in order to put itself on a tax- paying equality with other cities to tax itself in the amounts represented by these interest payments, and they should be deducted, it is held, from the prop- erty tax levies of all the cities in a com- parison with Washington of the cost of current maintenance, This theory is in effect substantiated by the Bureau of Efficiency’s findings (although the practice is not followed in the tables), for in the report itself the bureau reaches the conclusion that 8 difference between the: per capita gov- ernmental cost payments of Washington and other cities is “accounted for almost entirely by larger expendjtures (in the case of other cities) on account of In- terest on bonded indebtedness and capi- tal outlays. It is evident that most of the other cities are living beyond their income and running into debt in order to undertake extensive programs of public improvements.” “Financial Jags” Elsewhere. Washington is not undertaking exten- sive programs of public improvements on borrowed money. It did not indulge in the large borrowing and bond issues ".hn rhlll"x been termed a ‘“financial " following the war, when cities were l:fie to borrow easily from rich investors in tax-exempt municipal securities in avoidance of income taxes and surtaxes. It has been argued by those who have represented this community in former Will Rogers Says: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—There must be an awful lot of factories, and firms, d individuals that have al- ways shown some kind of apprecia- tion o their folks on Chirst- mas, who per- haps this year on account of conditions are not able to do all they would like to, and are at a loss just what to “do. Wouldn't this be more welcome than a gift, send each one & note, and tell ’em they are not going to be fired, that their position is secure. I believe that will be a mighty acceptable Christ- mas present to everybody that is on salary. It will any present you can send, relieve their anxiety, and let them go out and do some shopping of their own, and thereby help everybody. We are bad off, but the world ain’t coming to an end yet. folks vuo move every two years or oft- ener, are among our staunchest supporters. ¥ They appreciate more than anybody what it means to have furniture handled with | Optometrists 1217 G St. N.! care. Call Metropolitan 1843 for an estimate. % 418 10th Street % has enjoyed the benefit of no such loans, it should not be forced to lift its actual tax burden to a superficial level in order to attain the equality de- manded by some members of Congress from out of town. These per capita interest and sinking fund payments appear in column 4 of today’s table. Subtracting them from the total per capita property tax levies for the fourteen cities and Washington (column 1 of table), it is found that in & comparison of the resulting per capita tax levies for current maintenance and development the per capita of Washing- ton (a) exceeds the per capita of five of the citles and is exceeded by nine of them, and that the per capita of Washington (b) exceeds that of twelve of the citles and is exceeded by that of two. (See column 5.) State Taxes Included. ‘The Bureau of Efficiency report ex- plains that the revenue receipts listed under the heading of taxes include all the taxes collected in the respective cities, whether by city, State or other civil division, such as school district, levee district, ef ‘Except in the case of Washington,” explains the report, “these taxes are shown in two sections, namely, city and State, and the city section includes county and district taxes. Although Washington has no State or county organization, it was considered necessary to include State and county taxes for the other cities in order to arrive at their total tax has always been contended In ‘Washington that in comparisons of its tax burden with that of other cities the State tax should not be taken into ac- count; that as Washington enjoys no State rights, privileges, bounties and benefits, she should not be figured to pay justly as part of her normal tax burden what other cities pay in consid- eration of the enjoyment of these State rights, privileges, bounties and other benefits. If. this subtraction of per capita State tax (column 2 of the table) is made from the per capita property tax levy of the cities, less interest pay- ments, column 6 of today’s table re- sults, which shows that the per capita of Washington (a) exceeds that of six cities and is exceeded by eight of them, Selected as the World's Model Dairy Plant end rated 100% by the District of Hea.th Department. | battles for fiscal equity that as the city |and that of Washington (b) exceeds | those of all but one of the cities com- Striking Results Shown. ‘The striking results of this column in the table are the comparisons showing Washington’s per capita (without the United States participating as a tax- payer) of $48.797 as being more than 50 per cent greater than that of Balti- more, $30.964; more than a third above that of New Orleans, $34.353; more than a fourth greater than St. Louis, $37.536; almost one-sixth greater than Indianap- olis, $42.528, and distinctly more than Minneapolis, $44.358, and Milwaukee, $44.710, and nearly as much as Cleve- land. $50.900, and Jersey City, $50.102. It would appear from such compari- sons that Washington's per capita city tax burden is relatively high, indeed. With the United States participating as a taxpayer—and bearing a fictitious tax burden comparable to the actual tax burdens borne by the great indus- tries of the cities compared—the com- parison is even more striking. In this case Washington's city tax burden for current maintenance more than doubles that of Baltimore. The Final Comparisons. The last two columns of the table broaden the comparisons from general property taxes to all kinds of taxes, limit them to city taxes (including county and all other taxes except State), and eliminate city interest payments to enable fair comparisons to be made be- tween the cost of ‘“current” mainte- nl‘t:me And development in the different cities. Washington (a) (without the United States participating as a taxpayer) records a per capita of $57.265. Wash- ington (b) (with the United States par- ticipating as a taxpayer) records a per Change capita of $72.930. The per capitas of other cities are: Cleveland, $51.888; St. Louis, $43.483; Baltimore, $33.695; Bos- ton, $79.715; Pittsburgh, $59.535; Buf- falo, $59.287; Milwaukee, $52.136; New- ark, $57.858; Minneapolis, $44.138; New Orleans, $33.364; Cincinnati, $59.850; Indianapolis, $42.069; Rochester, $56.940, an%i':h"!g %tyiJEZ.HB. e United States participating as a municipal taxpayer upon c:nl: of its real and personal property, Wash- ington (b) records a per capita of $72.930, which exceeds that of every other city except Boston. Its per capita is more than twice as great as that of Baltimore, 70 Per Cent Above Baltimore, Without the United States partic- Ipating as a taxpayer, Washington's per capita exceeds that of Cleveland, $51.808; St. Louls, $43.483; Baltimore, f‘G&BD Milwaukee, $52.136: Minneap- olis, $44.138; New Orleans, $33.364; In- dianapolis, $42.069 Rochester, '$56.940; Jersey City, $52.886, and closely approx- 2-room apartment, all rooms - side. Soundproof walls. Large elosets t, hot-water and re- Reasonable rental. g COPLEY COURTS 1514 17th St. For Double Hung Window Metal Weatherstrip for Doors We install a sample and if you are not pleased—no charge Saves Its Cost in One Winter in Full We Also Do Caulking Estimates without obligation. For turther details consult therstrip classification in the Phone Book. Phe or write Hickman-Bryant Corp. 2228 Pa. Ave. S.E. Phone Line. 7201 Her Diet To Extra Rich Extra Safe Milk and watch her imprdve! If Your Child's Weight is Not Normal SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN AT ONCE. of diet is neeced . . . S Quality Mi .. pethaps a change uperior Ik Will Give Her Extra Nourishment! For Superior Quality milk is the milk that aives extra richness, extra safety—in a word, Chestnut Farms milk! Be sure about this vitally important health need of YOUR baby. Place your order with us today Columbia and service starts comorrow morning. Call POtomac 4000. 4 eSS SR SR S ] i PGB SR SR SR SR ISR 2 2N SR SR S U T SR S R RN Jungle Tilness Recurs, Condition Is Not Critieal, LOS ANGELES, December 17 ()~ A recurrence of an attack of jungle fever sent John Barrymore, stage and screen star, to his bed yesterday. Ce | Priends and associates said the lcul!l oond!flu?nmnotcflfieu,mthlm very {ll. Barrymore contracted the disease several weeks ago while cruising on his yacht in Central American waters. PIERCE-ARROW In order to reduce our new car inventory between now and Christmas, we are offering attractive concessions on (4) four brand new current model Pierce-Arrow Cars. It will pay you to investigate these most unusual bargains. HARRY SOMMERS, Inc. ’ PIERCE-ARROW DISTRIBUTOR 1727 Connecticut Ave. Potomac 0858 Pay Next Year for this practical Christmas Gift NEXT YEAR Remington Portable Typewriter MMEDIATE DELIVER Now it's so easy for you to own the finest portable in the world. Everyone who writes needs this machine. Never before has it been so simple and convenient to own ane. Take this unusual opportunity now. Come in today and make your selection. Colors too if you wish. All 1930 models, the same as are nationally advertised. FOR THE _HOME—FOR THE STU- DENT—FOR BUSINESS, G by Remington: Rand, Inc.. world’s largest manufacturer of ofice ap- sliances, and by Chas. Schwartz & Son. ranteed 708 7th St. N.W. 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